Anyone have this boat and can tell me about how they are weighting it? Also I wanted to verify this boat has the same hull as the Super Sport and Super Air? I'm going to demo one on Wednesday. Any other pros or cons would be appreciated too.

Same hull. I have a 99 and I put a 550 in the trunk on top of the factory ballast. I have a 600 locker sac in the locker and with 4 people the wake is steep, knee high and clean above 19mph. The Sport/Air Nautiques are one of the best all around boats you can buy.

Mike, if you are going from a Rinker 232 to a Sport Nautique, you will be in heaven. I have a 2000 Air Nautique which is the same as a Sport Nautique and my friend has a Rinker 232. I've wakeboarded behind my friends Rinker and I couldn't believe how small the wake was for a 23 foot boat. Also the shape of the wake doesn't even compare to the Nautique. As far as ballast in the Nautique, I've just been using the stock ballast system for the past three years, and just started playing around with a 700lb sac between the engine and rear seat at the end of last summer.

An Air Nautique is simply a Sport Nautique with a tower, ballast, and "Air" graphics just like a Super Air Nautique is just a Nautique Super Sport with the above options. My cert plate actually says "Sport Nautique" as the model. I would bet that SAN's say "Super Sport" on their cert plates. Here are a couple of pics. Outside Cert Plate

Don, sweet looking boat! I've been able to get a decent wake out of the Rinker, but it requires a lot of weight. There is definitely no comparison between it and the Super Sports I've ridden behind. The Rinker is such a nice comfortable all around boat for lounging and hanging out in though, I am going to miss it.

Craig, yes, we will miss the swim platform starts. Congrats on the teak platform. I think the boat I'm looking at has a teak platform too! I'm heading out to demo it today around 2 so I'll let you know what happens.

Well, I bought it! I was a bit nervous about it at first cause putting it next to the Rinker it looks so small and driving it is totaly different. I have to say, Tim Huston at Huston motors in Lake Wales was great. Took me out for the demo, we both boarded behind it so I could get a feel for the wake and driving it with ballast and pulling a rider. It was sweet. It had the stock cruise which didn't seem to work, nor did the speedometer so he's upgrading me to Perfect Pass digital pro. The ballast pump was acting strange too so he's replacing that and also installing the factory flush kit. We got him to throw in a Flight Control Tower too (it had an extended pylon). On top of that they are going to get everything done and deliver the boat to my house (saves me a 2 hour drive) so I'm pretty excited. After I got home I found some paperwork from the original owner. It seems the boat was sold new for the first time only a year ago. It only has 63 hours on the meter. There also seems to be another 2 years left on the PCM engine warranty that I can transfer so I am real happy about that.

Dan or Gregg, does the ballast drain out through the inlet fitting as well?

DUDE! When do you get it? I got your message last night, but when I got home from class it was pretty late. What ballast does it have, just the rear? What color is it? What is the length, 20'? How do you think it will handle some of the waves around here? The only thing I would worry about is that channel headed to Shell Island.

Congrats Mike, you will love it! The ballast drains out through the inlet on the bottom of the hull. It's right below the front of the engine. My empty pump went out on mine and I had it replaced under warranty. I think it might have been left on and just burned itself out. Since I had it replaced, I haven't had any problems. With the tower and the Perfect Pass your boat will be setup just like mine. That's awesome that it came with a barefoot boom! One of my goals this summer is to learn how to barefoot.

Craig, not sure yet. They're checking on availability of the tower. The other stuff should be in today or tomorrow. Yep, just the rear tanks, we'll work on the front later! Color is a teal green, 21'. That's the only thing I'm worried about is going out in the intercoastal. It's pretty low in the water. I may have to start going to Tarpon! Sandy, I'll let you know! I'll post some pics after I get it with the tower.

Dan, thanks for the info. You're welcome to come on down and barefoot here!

Mike, congrats. Yes the ballast fills and drains from the same hole in the bottom. If you leave the valves open and turn off the pump the tanks will gravity drain when your not moving. I just close the petcock on the inlet once the tanks are full. That way I can turn the pump off and the tanks stay full till we're ready to call it a day.

Nautiques are pretty good about not taking water over the bow. That straight bow may not look as sleek as some other boats but it's like that for a reason.

Check to see if your dealer can get your tower powder coated to color match the boat. It would be worth the extra cash if they can.